Bisons still vying for a home playoff game
Women’s hockey team splits pair of games with Saskatchewan
STEVE BOHRN STAFF
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS ZUK/ BISON SPORTS.
The women’s hockey team entered their Feb. 2 and 3 games with the Saskatchewan Huskies ranked ninth in the nation and in third place in the Canada West conference, right behind the Regina Cougars.
While the Cougars had the tough task of playing the first place Alberta Pandas, the Bisons looked to have it much easier playing against the Huskies, a team that was fighting for its playoff life.
With only four games remaining in their schedule, the Bisons knew that there was no such thing as a sure win, especially considering that the Huskies were in dire need of a win. The Bisons were well aware that they would have a tough battle all weekend.
And what a battle it was.
The Bisons took the Feb. 2 game 3-2, relying on their high-energy offensive attack and a pair of shorthanded goals, and a first-goal rebounder by Tammy Brade, to put the game away.
But that attack, so potent on Friday, all but disappeared on Saturday, as the Huskies took the second game of the weekend set 1-0 on the strength of Kristen Graham’s first-ever CIS goal.
With the win on Saturday, the Huskies snapped their six-game losing skid against the Bisons and avoided going winless against Manitoba this season.
Manitoba got strong goaltending all weekend and continued to utilize their two-goalie setup in a big way. Stacey Corfield made 14 stops on Friday while Dana Hoogsteen stopped nine shots on Saturday. These two have shared the load all season and look to be getting stronger as the playoffs approach.
Where it was the Bisons’ offence that shined on Friday, the defence really came to play on Saturday. Only 10 shots found their way to the Hoogsteen, and on six power-play opportunities for the Huskies they were held to only one shot.
What may be of concern for the Bisons was their performance with the man-advantage in the two games. While they picked up two powerplay goals on Friday, they went a miserable 0-10 with an extra player on Saturday.
The Bisons are guaranteed to go to the playoffs, along with the Regina Cougars and the Alberta Pandas, but who and where they will play is still to be determined.
The Cougars upset the Pandas 4-0 on Saturday, giving them a slim, two-point edge over Manitoba for second place in Canada West. Second place is very important, because if the season were to end today, the Cougars would have the home-ice advantage against the Bisons in the first round of the playoffs.
Unfortunately for the Bisons, their fate is no longer in their own hands. In order for Manitoba to get a home playoff game, they must win their two remaining games and hope that Regina loses their final two games.
With so much left to be decided, the final weekend of play promises to be exciting. The Bisons can only hope to continue their amazing play as they head toward the post-season.
Bisons head coach Jon Rempel has done a great job with the women’s hockey team all year, keeping focused and getting wins when most needed. With the playoffs looming, the team will get a chance to prove their mettle in one of the most competitive collegiate sports in Canada.
Manitoba will look to put a good end on a solid regular season when they host the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Feb. 9 and 10 at the Max Bell Centre. Meanwhile the Huskies will host the aforementioned Cougars to close out the 2006-07 regular season.
